Collier County Man Sentenced To Six Years In Connection With Sunshine Pharmacy Health Care Fraud

Fort Myers, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John E. Steele has sentenced Adam Parrish (35, Naples) to six years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and improperly using a DEA Registration Number. He pleaded guilty on February 18, 2015.

According to his plea agreement, from February 2009 through July 2012, Adam Parrish conspired with Delmer Holmes Parrish and Patricia Parrish to defraud federal health care benefit programs out of approximately $351,358. All three, along with others, used Sunshine Pharmacy and Sunshine Solutions in Naples to further their unlawful scheme to defraud the government. The co-conspirators submitted and caused claims to be submitted for reimbursement from the Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE programs for prescriptions that had not been filled or provided to beneficiaries and recipients, including prescriptions for patients that had not been written or authorized by any duly licensed physician. In addition, they submitted and caused claims to be submitted for beneficiaries and recipients who were deceased. In carrying out the offenses, the conspirators also used the means of identification of individuals who were enrolled in the Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE programs without their knowledge or consent. As a result of the scheme, the government was defrauded out of approximately $351,358.

In addition, Adam Parrish admitted that he had unlawfully used the names of three federal health care beneficiaries to commit health care fraud. He also admitted that he had used two different physicians’ DEA Registration Numbers, on three occasions, to acquire or obtain controlled substances from pharmacies in Collier County. 

Delmer Parrish and Patricia Parrish were sentenced for their role in the conspiracy in April 2014. Delmer Parrish, who was a licensed pharmacist and owner of Sunshine Pharmacy, surrendered his pharmacist license and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. Patricia Parrish, Delmer Parrish’s mother, was sentenced to house arrest for 120 days, to be followed by three years of probation. In addition, Delmer and Patricia Parrish paid $351,358.14 in restitution to the United States at the time of their sentencing.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Naples Police Department; Collier County Sheriff's Office; and the U.S. Secret Service.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David G. Lazarus.